Another striking archaeological development unearthed on the grounds of the upcoming Magdala Center.

A close-up view of the seven steps of the miqwe uncovered in Magdala.

August 19, 2011. Magdala, Israel. As the archaeological excavations continue
on the site where Fr Juan Solana, LC, and his
team are building the Magdala Center, new discoveries are
constantly coming to light. In September of 2009, archaeologists discovered a first-century synagogue and a stone engraved with a
seven-branched menorah. This year, they uncovered a first-century mosaic and
a ritual Jewish bath.

The team of archaeologists, led by
Marcela Zapata, a Mexican archaeologist based out of the Anáhuac
University of Southern Mexico City, identified the stone pool structure
as a “miqwe,” a ritual purification bath used before entering
the synagogue. Measuring about 11.5 feet deep, it has seven
stairs descending to the bottom. Zapata noted that the seven
stairs are a symbolic reference to the seven days of
creation and to the seven historic moments of contact between
Yahweh and the Jewish people.

“The physicality of the Mikvah
is so striking,” said Fr Eamon Kelly, LC, the vice-chargé
for the Pontifical Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. “You walk
down steps, you see the water there, it becomes so
real. There is absolutely no mistake about it – you
are in a place where pious Jews carried out their

A wider view of the miqwe among the other ruins.

religious prescriptions.”

In addition to the miqwe, the archaeologists discovered many
other small objects that point to life in the small
Jewish town: clay pots and dishes, stone jars that the
Jews used to purify themselves in the miqwe, about 700
first-century coins, and various metal objects such as rings and
bells.

“For the millions of visitors, God willing, who will
come to Magdala, they will have striking features to see,”
said Fr Kelly, noting that seeing archaeological evidence of biblical
times does not replace faith, “but it surely solidifies the
rationality of our understanding and makes it tangible.”

He also pointed
out that recent discoveries at the Magdala Center, of interest
to both Jews and Christians, can forge “deeper bonds” of
mutual understanding, and can become a form of outreach to
people of other faiths and with all people of goodwill.

As
the Magdala Project continues, those interested in staying up to
date on recent happenings can visit the Magdala Center web
site at www.magdalacenter.com or subscribe to the Magdala Newsletter
by e-mailing Fr Juan Solana at jsolana@magdalacenter.com.